Performance varied significantly by region across all metrics, with the exception of ALOS, which was lower than the prior year and came in below budget in all regions, and adjusted discharges, which demonstrated strong growth. The West region seemed to demonstrate the most consistent strength across metrics and was the only region to experience both growth year-over-year, and greater growth in ED volumes relative to budget.

Adjusted Patient Days

Adjusted Discharges

ED Visits

OR Minutes

Adjusted Patient Days

Adjusted Discharges

ED Visits

OR Minutes

National Volume Observations

Nationally, hospital volumes were strong in May, as all metrics saw brisk growth month-over-month. These increases translated to solid year-over-year growth in both discharges and adjusted discharges. However, emergency department (ED) visits and operating room (OR) minutes decreased compared to the prior year’s numbers. Similarly, adjusted patient days increased only slightly due to broad reductions in average length of stay (ALOS).
Performance relative to budget was mixed, with adjusted discharges seeing the largest positive variance and average length of stay (ALOS) experiencing the largest negative variance.

Budget Variance

Month Over Month

Year Over Year

Year Over Year Distributions

(Click to enlarge)

Discharges

(1.5%)

2.9%

2.2%

Adjusted Discharges

3.0%

6.0%

1.9%

Adjusted Patient Days

0.2%

3.1%

0.6%

Average Length of Stay

(3.0%)

(2.6%)

(2.9%)

ED Visits

(1.4%)

6.1%

(0.6%)

Operating Room Minutes

1.3%

5.1%

(0.6%)

Unless noted, figures are Actuals and Medians

By Region

By Bed Size

National Observations

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Volume by Bed Size

ALOS and adjusted discharges also were more consistent across bed sizes compared with the previous year. Nationally, ALOS dropped across all bed-size cohorts and fell below budget for all but one. Adjusted discharges increased across all but one cohort and exceeded budget for all but two cohorts, which experienced only small negative variances.
Few clear correlations with bed size emerged. When it comes to ED volumes, larger hospitals saw ED volumes grow year-over-year, while volumes in smaller EDs decreased. Conversely, only very small hospitals grew their OR minutes, while OR minutes in larger hospitals decreased. It will be important to monitor these trends to see whether they continue.